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<\/p>\n#AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 9, 2017<\/b>
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\u201cWITH ONE SIGNATURE ON A PIECE OF PAPER, OUR LIVES COMPLETELY CHANGED\u201d: <\/strong>BuzzFeed<\/em>\u2019s Sarah Karlan (@SkarSkarSkar<\/a>) reports on Texan Paul Harrison, who, in a moving new HRC video<\/a>, tells the story of meeting his fianc\u00e9 two years ago in Iran, where same-sex<\/a> sexual activity is illegal, and the fear and hardship President Trump\u2019s unconscionable Muslim travel ban has caused the couple<\/a>. Harrison tells their loving story — daily phone calls<\/a>, time together in Turkey, and the terrible uncertainty they now face. When Trump signed his first ban, Harrison told Karlan, \u201cI became sick to my stomach\u2026 My fiance was just in disbelief and denial that this could be happening.\u201d Trump\u2019s latest order still makes them uneasy. Harrison is abroad working to get a visa for his fiance and hoping their marriage dreams, and his partner\u2019s safety, won\u2019t be compromised by Trump\u2019s action that shamefully vilifies the Muslim community and poses a threat to countless refugees — including thousands of LGBTQ refugees seeking to escape violence and persecution. More from BuzzFeed<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n NC REPORT PROMPTED BY HB2 FINDS SCHOOL BULLYING WORSENING FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS<\/strong>: A review of more than 75 studies between 1996 and 2016 tracks a troubling increase in bullying targeting LGBTQ students, \u201churting attendance and academic achievement and increasing their risk of suicide attempts,\u201d the Raleigh News & Observer <\/em><\/a>reports today. The review was prompted by HB2, North Carolina\u2019s anti-LGBTQ law that specifically targets transgender people for discrimination. Researchers in the Violence and Victimization Research Program at the NC-based non-profit RTI\u2019s Center for Justice, Safety and Resilience also found no evidence that LGBTQ people pose a threat to others — in fact, many studies show they are more likely to be victims of assault, harassment, bullying and hate crimes. \u201cI had really hoped and almost expected to see that things might be moving in a better direction as far as victimization,\u201d said lead author Tasseli McKay. \u201cIt really surprised me to see not just are forms of victimization staying the same, some forms are getting worse.\u201d Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n KATY PERRY, AMERICA FERRERA , SEN. TIM KAINE\u00a0 AND SINGER TROYE SIVAN TO HEADLINE HRC\u2019S LA GALA:<\/strong> HRC announced today that global pop icon and longtime equality advocate Katy Perry will be honored with HRC\u2019s National Equality Award<\/em> at the 2017 Los Angeles Gala Dinner on March 18. Ground-breaking actress and LGBTQ advocate America Ferrera will be also be recognized with HRC\u2019s Ally for Equality Award<\/em>. Lena Dunham, actor, writer, director, creator and star of HBO’s GIRLS<\/em> and co-founder of LennyLetter.com<\/a>, will present the award to Ferrera, her friend and fellow advocate.\u00a0 HRC also announced that U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, (D-VA), will be the featured speaker at the gala. And singer\/songwriter Troye Sivan will perform. Special guests include Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Read more at HRC<\/a>, People<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> and E!Online<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Excited to honor @KatyPerry<\/a> & @AmericaFerrera<\/a> at #HRCLADinner<\/a>! @TimKaine<\/a> will also speak & @TroyeSivan<\/a> will perform t.co\/CJpc4OAkNg<\/a> <\/a>pic.twitter.com\/AmlV8EEgT0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) March 9, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n THROWBACK THURSDAY: <\/strong>This week marks two years since HRC delivered to the Supreme Court of the United States the historic “People’s Brief,” signed by 207,551 people calling for full nationwide marriage equality. The People\u2019s Brief\u00a0 had more signatories than any amicus brief ever submitted to the Supreme Court, and was nearly 3,500 pages long. It required four days of round-the-clock printing in order to complete the 50 copies required by the Court in time for the March 6 deadline for filing. Nineteen boxes were delivered to the court. More on The People\u2019s Brief here<\/a>.<\/p>\n .@HRC<\/a> delivered The People’s Brief w\/200K+ signatures in favor of #marriageequality<\/a> to #SCOTUS<\/a> t.co\/ZOLMK0Fs4i<\/a> <\/a>pic.twitter.com\/C26onoNW1j<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) March 6, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n HRC CALLS ON CONGRESS TO REJECT THE AHCA: <\/strong>HRC has sent a letter<\/a> opposing the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR), the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX), the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means; and Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. \u201cWe are deeply concerned about the negative impact this proposal would have on communities already facing discrimination and healthcare disparities, including the LGBTQ community. The announced legislation undermines core provisions of the Affordable Care Act and cuts off tens of millions of Americans from life-saving healthcare coverage,\u201d HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy<\/strong> said in the letter<\/a>. \u201cThis flawed proposal, drafted behind closed door without public input, turns a blind eye to the essential health benefits that millions of Americans have come to rely upon.\u201d More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u25cfThe AHCA could prevent access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)<\/strong> — a once-daily, life-saving pill regimen that helps people stay HIV-negative. More from TIME<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n MAGNOLIA, MISS., BECOMES 2ND CITY IN STATE TO OK LGBTQ NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS: <\/strong>With a unanimous vote, the Magnolia, Miss., Board of Aldermen enacted city-wide non-discrimination protections that include sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, public accommodations and employment. The ordinance also includes a new LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes provision. Magnolia joins Jackson as the two cities in the state to pass fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances. \u201cMagnolia has sent a clear message: all people are welcome, and all people are protected from bias-driven crimes in this inclusive city,\u201d said Rob Hill, HRC Mississippi state director<\/strong>. \u201cAs cities such as Magnolia and Jackson pass these important protections, they are showing our state legislature and our other elected officials that inclusivity and acceptance are Mississippi values, and that we don\u2019t want hate in our state.\u201d More at HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n AUSTIN OPENS FIRST CLINIC SPECIFICALLY SERVING TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY: <\/strong>Kind Clinic offers free services to the transgender and gender nonconforming community. The clinic shares space with Texas Health Action, which does HIV-prevention work. Kelly Kline, a patient of Kind Clinic and local transgender advocate, said, \u201cI can\u2019t stress enough how important it is to walk into a place where we don\u2019t feel judged.\u201d More from the Austin American-Statesman<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONER OF ANNA, TX, COMES OUT AS TRANSGENDER: <\/strong>On Monday, Janine Johnson handed out a letter to the commission and city council coming out, citing the anti-transgender SB6 as her reason for deciding to live<\/a> openly. Earlier this year, New Hope Mayor Jess Herbst became the first known openly transgender elected official in Texas\u2019 history. More from KXII<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n HRC MOURNS DANDARA DOS SANTOS, TRANSGENDER WOMAN MURDERED IN BRAZIL: <\/strong>Dandara dos Santos, a Brazilian transgender woman<\/a>, was brutally murdered last month by five attackers. The crime was captured on video<\/a>, forcing many in Brazil to face the epidemic of violence against transgender women<\/a> in the country and around the world. More from The New York Times<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n TAIPEI MOVES TO OPEN PUBLIC HOUSING OPTIONS TO SAME-SEX COUPLES: <\/strong>The city is currently processing an amendment that would allow registered same-sex<\/a> couples<\/a> to access public housing in the Taiwanese city. More from Focus Taiwan<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n RUSSIA BANS CHILDREN FROM SEEING NEW DISNEY FILM: <\/strong>The Russian Culture Ministry has announced that the new Beauty and the Beast<\/em> film will be restricted to those ages 16 and up because the film features a gay<\/a> character. In 2013, Russia enacted harsh anti-LGBTQ laws banning \u201cpropaganda of non-traditional sexual relations\u201d and blocking same-sex<\/a> couples<\/a> from adopting children. More from The Associated Press<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n READING RAINBOW<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Associated Press<\/em><\/a> reviews a new documentary exploring the drag community in Columbus, Ohio\u2026 HRC<\/a> sits down with the Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies<\/a> (IMPT) to talk about global sexual and reproductive health needs for women<\/a> and girls<\/a>\u2026 \ufffd\ufffd Paste Magazine<\/em><\/a> reviews Equality Wines, which donates a portion of its proceeds to equality efforts\u2026<\/p>\n Have news? Send us your news and tips at <\/em><\/strong>AMEquality@hrc.org<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. <\/em><\/strong>Click here<\/em><\/strong><\/a> to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow <\/em><\/strong>@HRC<\/em><\/strong><\/a> for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n www.hrc.org\/blog\/am-equality-tipsheet-march-9-2017?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" #AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 9, 2017 \u201cWITH ONE SIGNATURE ON A PIECE OF PAPER, OUR LIVES COMPLETELY CHANGED\u201d: BuzzFeed\u2019s Sarah Karlan (@SkarSkarSkar) reports on Texan Paul Harrison, who, in a moving new HRC video<\/a>, tells the story of meeting his fianc\u00e9 two years ago in Iran, where same-sex<\/a> sexual activity is illegal, and the fear and … Continue reading #AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 9, 2017<\/span> \n
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